Solo travel in Oz
 

I have a business trip to New Zealand in November, and plan to add a couple of weeks' holiday to the end of the trip. I've got a rough plan for the NZ portion (about 5-6 days), but I'm trying to decide how to spend my time in Oz. Fundamentally, I'm a city girl, and I have friends in Melbourne and Sydney, so I plan to spend a couple of days in and around each of these cities (probably 2 days in Melbourne as I was there last year, and 3-4 in Sydney - with a side trip to the Blue Mountains if possible). I like walking and am learning to scuba dive, so I was thinking of heading up the coast to the GBR. But where? My budget doesn't stretch to Lizard Island/Hayman prices (although something like Heron Island is within budget for a few days). I'd like to go somewhere that is: a) not overwhelmingly commercialized (so that seems to rule out Hamilton); b) not jam-packed with honeymooners or families with small kids. I'd like to go somewhere where there are at least some other solo travellers, but I'm not sure I'm a Club Med type (although I'm considering it for this portion of the trip, because I'm interested in the watersports in place like the GBR).

Oh, and one final issue: the pesky critter factor. While most critters don't bother me (including spiders, snakes, lizards, rats, etc), I loathe mosquitoes and other flying/biting critters. And I'm wondering whether the fact that it will be "stinger season" will affect activities on the GBR islands. Are stingers enough of a problem on the islands that you can't walk on the beaches or swim off the beaches?

The backpacker hotels and youth hostels are an OK option for the single traveller. Tons of Brits do the GBR track (by bus dropping off at Airlie BEach, Magnetic Island, Cairns, Cape Trib)and fair share of girls travelling in small groups or solo. For that you will need some time as distances between places are not exactly short. SOme of the places are really crap (when I was in Cairns you would encounter lots of movement of backpackers as so many of the places were revolting, -official youth hostel was fine) and others are fine - especially if you do not mind sharing rooms. Some places like Magnetic Island have areas which are OK for swimming (e.g Radical Bay) in stinger season, whilst other places, you would not want to take the risk.

The backpacker hotels and youth hostels are an OK option for the single traveller. Tons of Brits do the GBR track (by bus dropping off at Airlie BEach, Magnetic Island, Cairns, Cape Trib)and fair share of girls travelling in small groups or solo. For that you will need the two weeks as distances between places are not exactly short. SOme of the places are really crap (when I was in Cairns you would encounter lots of movement of backpackers as so many of the places were revolting, -official youth hostel was fine) and others are fine - especially if you do not mind sharing rooms. Some places like Magnetic Island have areas which are OK for swimming (e.g Radical Bay) in stinger season, whilst other places, you would not want to take the risk.

Thanks for the message, Travelnick. Sorry, though, I should have mentioned that the backpacker/hostel travel style isn't really what I'm looking for either. (I know, I want the impossible - interesting solo travellers, but neither a "singles scene" nor a hostel/backpacker travel style - which I know is probably the best way to meet people while travelling.) And I've got the budget to afford something more upscale (including my own room and toilet) - just not in the stratospheric range.

Hello Kate - if you want to meet like-minded travellers, why not stay in a B&B - obviously not a tiny one. Most have ensuite bathrooms and you'll catch a wealth of local information from hosts. For Far North Queensland (closest to GBR) have a look at the B&B Association website - www.bnbnq.com.au Box jelly fish are not a problem on reef - but if swimming on coastal beaches you must stay in netted areas - they breed in mangrove swamps on mainland coastline. Wouldn't leave it too long to make reservations - World Rugby Cup is being held in Oz in Oct-Nov and the B&B's up here in the north are filling up fast.

Kate-

I'd honestly just suggest Club Med for both ease and meeting people. Although it's a family resort, there will be singles there (many from outside Australia). The other option is Contiki's Great Keppel Island or Daydream Island. Oh, and check out Club Crocodile on Long Island. They're all inclusive resorts that are geared towards younger folks. Great Keppel is the youngest, Daydream is the most couply of them, and Club Crocodile is in the middle. It's not backpacker or hostel-like, but not Haymen. Just good, all around options for partaking in the watersports and hiking and meeting people. All these places have launches off of Airlie Beach, I believe.

Kate-I was at Club Crocodile during a Contiki tour and the only other group were a teen People to People tour. I did not see any singles and we were there for approx. 2-3 days. It really wasn't that great. I loved Noosa and Fraser Island, though, although they are not in or near the GBR but closer to Brisbane. Just some other ideas...you will definitely meet people wherever you go. I just got back from a month in NZ and a week in OZ (friends as well in Mel and Syd) and it was fabulous. Met heaps of people traveling solo, in groups, couples, etc. You should have fun no matter where you go. I'm so jealous!